Bagnall 0-4-0DH built 1961, number
3207 "Leys"
Above:
Bagnall 4wDH 3207, freshly repainted in blue at Caverswall Road in September
2004
A compact 90hp shunting engine powered by a Gardner 5LW five cylinder diesel unit, "Leys" was the last-but-one locomotive built by W G Bagnall Ltd in Stafford, before the firm was taken over by English Electric Co Ltd. Unusually for the time, Bagnalls had started to use hydraulic instead of mechanical transmission, in this case a British Twin Disc single stage torque converter was fitted, linked to a chain drive. Supplied to the Leys Malleable Casting Co Ltd at Derby in 1961, it received little use there. When rail traffic ceased in 1984 "Leys" was in very good condition and came by road to Foxfield for preservation on 11 February. While in industrial use "Leys" carried Bagnall green livery, but at Foxfield it has worn maroon with yellow details. Any resemblance to the current loco livery of English Welsh & Scottish Railway was not co-incidental, it was reputed to be from a tin of the same paint! During summer 2004 it was repainted in blue livery with handrails, steps and buffers picked out in white. It is in full operational condition and a favourite for shunting in the yard at Caverswall Road station.
"Leys" currently carries the name "Bagnall" in recognition of its world-renowned manufacturer. It is a significant and final example in the story of Bagnall locomotive production at the Castle Works, represented at Foxfield by "Lewisham", "Hawarden", "No 2", "Florence No2", "Wolstanton No3" and also "Myfanwy".
Above:
Bagnall 4wDH 3207 as restored and on display at Caverswall Road in 2002
Below:
The simple worksplate on Bagnall 4wDH 3207 "Leys"/"Bagnall"